Flexible v band tube coupling



July 8, 1952 .G. A. MAHOFF ETAL 2,602,678

FLEXIBLE V BAND TUBE COUPLING Filed Ooi.. 17, 1950 I i 1 l l l I l l l l I Patented July 8, 1952 UNITED STATES rem OFFICE FLEQBLE VBAND TUBE COUPLING George A. Mahoi, Santa Monica, and Richard 0. Jessup, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Marman Products Co., Inc., Inglewood, Calif.; a corporation of California Application ctober 17, 1950, Serial No.19;0,49fl Claims. (Cl. 2855-129) a .constrictor band are converted into axial pres-l eures for establishing a fluid tight seal between lianges associated with respective tube sections to be coupled, the coupling being particularly thai'a'cterized by the embodiment of means for maintaining the seal while allowing axial misaligni'nent of the tube sections.

l vOne of the specic objects of the invention 'vis to provide a coupling in which the seal may b'e established or maintained between a pair of flat flanges projecting radially outwardly from the respective tube sections, while allowing relative radial movement therebetween. It is ,preferred to establish the seal by direct contact betweenthe metal faces of the flanges, avoiding the use of packing means, since the use of a; packing ring between radially shifting flanges presents a rather diflicult problem. However, where an attempt is made to effect a direct metal to 'metal seal between the flanges, the problem of sealing is accentuated, particularly where it the flanges in the Contact areas thereof, into effective sealing contact and to maintain such contact while permitting relative axial shift between the flanges.

Other objects will become apparent in the ensuing speciiications and appended drawings in Y which Fig. 1 is a side view partially,r broken away and in section, of a coupling embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an axial sectional View thereof taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; and

Vsuiiicie'nt eifectiveness to press all portions of Fig. 3 is a fractional sectional View of a modified form of the invention.

As an example of one form in' which the invention may be embodied, I have shown in the drawings a coupling in which a fluid typeseal is established between tube sections Il and II by a metal to metal contact of flanges I2 and I3 carriedby the respective tube sections. The engaging faces of anges- I2 and I3 are at in 'order that they may maintain a fairly. extensive area of sealing contact in all positions of relative radial shifting adjustment thereof. For best results the engaging faces of these anges are machined to a fairly high nish (e. g., to the'extent of alapped, or, in some cases, a polished iinish The invention contemplates the possibility of having flanges I2, I3 either directly attached to ment, but also longitudinal telescoping movement to accommodate relative axial shift between the tube sections. To provide for such situations, the invention may, as in the embodiment shown inthe drawing, utilize sleeves IQ,

I5 having belled mouths I6 facilitating Vthe insertion of tube sections Il), ll, thereinto. kIn some cases, it may be desirable to Welda connecting sleeve kIt or I5 to a tube section It or Il, whereas inlother cases it may be considered necessary to 'leave a sliding, telescoping joint between one or both of the connecting sleeves Ill, I5 and the respective tube sections. In the lattercase, it would of course be difcult to maintain a fluid tight seal, especially in cases where the fluid is passed through the coupling under pressure. However, in some installations such as in the couplingof engine exhaust pipes, the

. pressureseal' may not be essential, and in such cases, the engaging faces of flanges I2, i3 need not be developed to a high degree of finish.

Flanges I2, I3 are provided with collars l'l which receive the unflangedv ends of connector sleeves I4, I5 and are joined theretoA by suitable means, such as by rings of welding I8.

Axial pressure is derived fromla .pair of frustoconical wedging members I9 constituting .side wall .portions oi an annulus'of channel section including a web portion 20 forming the rim or periphery thereof. Wedging members I9 may be reinforced at their inner margins by axially outwardly projecting flanges I9'.

Annulus I9, 20 is subjected to radial, compressive forces through the constricting action of a constrictor band 2l acting in response to circumferential take-up developed by a connector unit 22.

The ends of band 2| are looped back upon themselves to form loops 23, 24 which-are joined by the take-up connector 22. Connector 22 vin itself forms no part gf the present invention, being of conventional type. Describing the connector for identification purposes, it comprises a yoke or socket 25 having a web portion 26-which/ is provided with a notch (not shown) to receive the stem of a T-bolt 28 so that head 21 of bolt 28 may be received in socket 25. T-boltr 28 extends through registering openings in a tubular cross bar 29 the ends of whichare engaged .inseparated sections of loop 23 (of bifurcated'formnot illustrated-to receive bolt 28) a tightening nut 30 being threaded onto the end of bolt 28 and- 'transmitting pressure Vto-oross bar 29 through a suitable pressure transmitting collar 3|. Socket 26 isxconnected by a suitable crosspin 32 tofloop 24.

wAxial components of the radial compression to which wedging members I9 are subjected, are developed in a pair of pressure transmitting rings v33, 3'4. Each of the rings 33, 34 includes a flat body portion 35 vengaging a respective flange I2, I3, a `generally cylindrical rim -36 (for ring 33, 36 'for ring 34), a reinforcing'flange 3'I at the inner margin thereof,iprojecting axially in the Aopposite direction from rim 3S, and asemitoroidal corner portion 38 joining at body portion 35 Ltorim 36 or 38. Corner portion 38 is projected axially away from the flange engaging Vface of body section' 35,:soas to provide a clearance .space 39 between said body-section and the rim .36. Clearancepspace 39 adjacent flange I2 assures Vazflat engagement between pressure yring 332and ange I2 and avoids the concentration of axial pressure transmission betweenthe two at the extreme periphery of flange I2 which would 'ten'd to distort the flange I2 from a truly flat plane and to destroy the "flat face to face sealing engagement between flanges I2, I3. Preferably, the clearance space 39 is of sucient radial extent'to concentrate the axial pressureof rings 33 -and34 at substantially the periphery of flange I3.

VCorner portions 38 have the further function of providing smooth, curved external surfaces for engagement by the wedging jaws I9, reducing to a minimum the friction and galding resulting from the high pressure wedging engagement between iaws I9 `and rings 33, 34. Rim flanges 36,

36 differ in radius by the wall thickness of ring 34, and rim flange 33' is telescoped within rim iiange 36 for. relative axial sliding movement between Vthe rings'33, 34. This telesco-ping connec- Vtionmaintains the two rings in coaxial relation to` each other. The two rings in turn are positioned in coaxial relation to tube section I by the-snug fitting of the periphery of flange I2 within rim flange v35,.with.suftlcient clearance to allow freevaxialmovement betweenthe two. The inner diameter of rings l 33, 34 as defined by reinforcing collars V3'I,-is considerably larger than .sleeves I4, I5 whereby a considerable degree of *radialshift between'anges I3xandl2, to accomof tube sections I0, I I, the angle in each instancev being preferably not more than degrees. The angle shown in the drawing is between 15 and 20 degrees. With this angle of inclination, wedging jaws I9 will resolve radially constricting forces into forces applied axially against curved sections 38 of rings 33, 34, at a ratio of applied force to resultant ,force within the range of from 1:2 to 1:3.

The radius of contact of wedging engagement between jaws I9 and pressure rings 33, 34 is indicated by the broken line a extending parallel to the axis of the coupling. Similarly, the broken lines band c indicate respectively the outer and inner lradiallimits of the area of pressure engagement between rings 33, 34 and flanges I2, I3 respectively. Relief spaces 39 function to concentrate this area of engagement toward the inner margins of rings 33, 34, the radial extent of relief Aspaces 39 between the radius a of wedging engagement and the outer limit b of pressure engagement being at least as great as the radial distance b-c of -thearea of pressure engagement.

v As shown in the drawing, the distance ab is approximately twice that of bc, although it will be understood that considerable deviation from this ratio may be observed. This arrangement provides for a yielding transmission of pressure through rings 33, 34, of a nature such as to equalize the pressure against flanges I2, I3 in the area bc of pressure engagement. Furthermore, it tends to concentrate the pressure at .the periphery of ange I3,` for the reason that rings 33, 34 being of a yielding nature, tend to spring toward each other at the radius ct of wedging engagement, and to fulcrum against flanges I2, I3 at the radius b of the outer limit of pressure engagement .with the iianges I2, I3. This concentration of axial pressure at the periphery of flange I3 is effective tobring about maximum conformation of the engaging faces of anges I2, I3 to each other at the periphery of flange I3, even in the prese-nce of slight distortional irregularities in the engaging faces, arising from unevenness in the texture of the metal comprising the flanges I2, I3; from uneven stresses vset up therein in the forming operation; from inaccuracies in machining of the engaging surfaces; or from other causes. It will be understood that where the coupling ele-ments are fabricated in a relatively inexpensive Amanner by utilizing sheet -metal stampings, that stresses and strains incorporated in the metal during the forming or stamping processes, as well as irregularities in texture ofthe metal itself, mayresult in deviations of the engaging faces of flanges I2, I3 from strictly fiat planes, and that such deviations, though they may be so slight as to be relatively undetectable, will tend to result in leakage between the fianges.

It will now be apparent that the invention provides for concentration of axial pressures of maximum magnitude in relation to theconstricting tension originally developed in constricting band 2I, and that such pressures are concentrated at the periphery of flange I3 where they may have maximum effectiveness in overcoming the unsealing eiTect of distortionsinthe anges I2, I3.

The yielding characteristic of .rings 33, 34'p'rovides' the further advantage of combining -maximent of flange I5 relative to flange I2. This is due largely to the fact that the axial pressures developed in rings 33, 34 within radial zoneab are, through the yielding nature of the interven- Ving portions of rings 33, 34, distributed 7with `maximumuniformity to the pressure zone bc so that there is no unduly high concentration of pressure at'ally particular point which might result in a concentration of frictional resistance at that particular point, such as to interfere with the smooth,sellf-aligning function of the coupling. Accordingly, while relatively high frictional engagement will'A exist between the pressure rings and the flanges, there will be a maximum freedom of permissible radial movement in relation to the degree of effective sealing pressure applied between theflanges I2, I3.

Where a high pressure seal is required, one of the flanges 'I2, I3 may have an axially opening annular face groove 3| therein, and an O-ring packing 42 may be received withinA the groove 4I and engaged under compression between the bottom of the groove and the adjacent face of the other flange. As shown in Fig. 3, groove 4I is formed in flange I 3a although it would be obvious that it could equally well be formed in flange I2. Other parts shown correspond to those shown in Fig. 2 and are desig- 'from,' saidlianges being adapted to establish a sealing connection between said tube sections, a. split wedging/ring having inwardly diverging frusto-conical. jaws and havingk means for' es vtablishing constricting tension thereinvnsuchas to urgesaid jawsl radially inwardly, and a pair of, separate axially opposed resilient pressure rings interposed between said wedging ring and said flanges, said pressure ringsbeingfenibraced nated by the same reference characters. The remainder of the coupling may be the same as that shown in Fig. 2.

Where only a relatively small degree of misalignment is provided for, the tube sections and sleeves I4, I5 may, as shown, be of substantially the same diameter. Where considerable misalignment isprovided for, however, the downstream tube section may be of a larger diameter so as to avoid any throttling of flow through the y coupling when the tube sections are oifset relative to each other.

I claim:

1. In a coupling for joining tube sections havl ing flanges projecting radially outwardly from the respective ends thereof, and adapted to esv tablish a sealing connection between said tube sections, a wedging ring of channel section having opposed inwardly diverging split wedging jaws so as to receive axial pressures therefromas. the resultant of radially inward constriction of said jaws, said peripheral portions being out of contact with the respective flanges and having axial clearance permitting them to yield toward each other under the axial pressures applied thereto bysaid wedging jaws, whereby to yieldingly transmit said axial pressures to said zones of pressure transmitting engagement with said flanges, said peripheral portions terminating in rim anges projecting toward each other and telescoped, one within the other for mutual piloting in coaxial relation coupled with relativel axial shiftability. v

2. In a coupling for joining tube sections, in combination: a pair of sealing anges attached to the adjacent ends of the respective tube sections and projecting radially outwardly thereand engaged between saidv jaws so as to receive axial pressures therefrom as the resultant of yradially-inwardly directed forces in said jaws, Asaid pressure rings embracing and having pressure transmitting engagement with said anges ,for pressing them toward each other to establish said sealing connection, said pressure rings having cylindrical rim anges projecting toward each other and telescoped, one within the other, the inner of said rim iianges being tted to and receiving the periphery of one of said sealing flanges, whereby vsaid pressure rings are piloted in coaxial relation to each other and to said one sealing flange, the other of said sealing flanges having a peripheral diameter less than that of said one sealing flange, providing peripheral clearance between said other sealing flange and said telescoping rim anges, whereby to accommodate axial misalignment of said tube sections while maintaining a sealing connection therebetween.

' 3. In a coupling for joining tube sections having respective sealing iianges extending radially outwardly from therespective ends thereof, a split wedging ring having opposed, inwardly diverging frusto-conical wedging jaws and having means for developing constricting tension therein to move said jaws radially inwardly, and a pair of separate axially opposed pressure rings having peripheral portions embraced and engaged between lsaid jaws and having inner portions in axial pressure applying relation to the respective anges for pressing said anges toward each other to establish a sealbetween them, at least one of said sealing flanges being arranged with radial clearance between its periphery and said wedging ring and being radially slidable between its adjacent pressure ring and the vother sealing flange while subjected to the opposed pressures vof said adjacent pressure ring and other flange, for accommodating misalignment of 4said tween.

4. A coupling as defined in claim 3, wherein said pressure rings are of resilient sheet material, and each includes a relatively flat inner portion in engagement with a respective sealing flange, and a toroidal: outer portion, arched axially away from the sealing ange surface engaged by said inner portion, said outer portions terminating peripherally in substantially cylindrical rim flanges projecting toward each other and telescoped, for relative axial movement, one within the other, with one of said sealing flanges having radial clearance between its periphery and the inner rim fiange and the other sealing flange being of larger diameter than said one sealing flange and piloted within said inner rim flange to maintain a coaxial relation between the pressure rings and said' other sealing fiange, and with said one sealing flange being axially slidable under pressure between its adjoining pressure ring and said other sealing ange, said toroidal outer portions of the pressure rings being engaged between said wedging jaws and out of contact with the respective sealing flanges, whereby to have 7 ,azialrdyieldalqilitfy While "resliently transmitting Y i 'amalpressufes t0 Said ySealing flange5 .The following references are of record in the saidv pressurerings are of resilentsheet "Inaterialg `and wherein the saidperipherar portions 5 5."Av coupling as defined in '.o1aim'3, wherein 1e of this patent:

' lUNITED STATES PATENTS thereof are displaced axially'outwardly fromthe Number Name Date Vlsspecizive planes of said inner portions thereof 711,946,v Day Oct. 28, 1902 fsoas vrto have yaxial clearance for yielding niove- V818,511 Allen Apr.-24, 1906 ment-toward each other while resilieritlyftrans- 1,007,326` Boyd L. Oct. 31, 1911 m'i'tting pressure to said inner portions. 10 1,632,042 Y Price et al. June 14, 1927 2,359,030 Goldfield Sept. '26, 1944 GEORGE A. MAHOFF. 2,424,436 Crater July 22, 1947 RICHARD O. JESSUP. 2,457,077 `Woolsey Dec. 21,1948 2,519,847 Neely n.1 ,1- Aug. 22, 195o 

